Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer that grows quickly and usually does not produce a mass or lump in the breast. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, inflammatory breast cancer accounts for 1 to 2 percent of the total number of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases each year. Because it is rare and atypical in presentation, inflammatory breast cancer is often invasive, or has spread beyond the breast, at the time of diagnosis.
Unknown Cause
The cause of inflammatory breast cancer is widely unknown. According to BreastCancer.org, different parts of the world report significantly different numbers of inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis. African countries report much higher rates of inflammatory breast cancer than North America or Western Europe. Some risk factors that make a diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer more likely include being female, African American and increasing age. Although men can develop the disease, it is more often diagnosed in women. African American women have a higher risk than white women, and as age increases the risk for diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer also increases. While risk factors can help identify groups of people more likely to be diagnosed, they do not identify a cause.
Uncommon Presentation
Although the cause of inflammatory breast cancer is unknown, researchers have been able to identify the reason for the cancer's uncommon presentation. Most breast cancers present as a lump or mass in the breast that can be detected by self breast exam or mammogram. Inflammatory breast cancers rarely involve a lump or mass. The breast is often swollen, warm, red, painful, itchy and may involve areas of thick, pitted skin resembling an orange peel called peau d'orange. Often these symptoms can be mistaken for an infection in the breast.
According to University of Michigan Health System, the cancer cells in this type of cancer form sheets called cancer nests. The nests become lodged in the lymph system blocking the flow of lymph fluid. The lymph system helps the body remove waste, bacteria and pathogens. When lymph fluid becomes blocked by cancer nests, symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer develop. The cancer often spreads quickly, therefore it is important to contact a doctor quickly if these symptoms are present.
Cellular Abnormalities
While doctors do not know the cause of inflammatory breast cancer, they do know the cancer starts with one abnormal cell often located in the milk duct of the breast. This abnormal cell grows into a cancer nest and eventually lodges in the lymph system creating inflammatory breast cancer symptoms. BreastCancer.org states that there is some research to suggest that inflammatory breast cancer may be genetic, however that has yet to be confirmed. Researchers are working to identify the cause of inflammatory breast cancer in order to better prevent and treat the disease.
